The creation of the Iowa-Kosovo National Guard Partnership in 2011 marked the origin of the strong relationship between the governments of Iowa and Kosovo, which has expanded to many areas of society including business and education over the years. 

As Iowa’s first state university and flagship public research institution, the UI is essential in nurturing the bonds between Iowa and Kosovo. In the most recent Iowa delegation trip to Kosovo, UI representative Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs, visited multiple partner universities and advanced plans for a large grant application through USAID (United States Agency for International Development).    

“The state of Iowa and the Republic of Kosovo have enjoyed a strong relationship for many years. The 40-person delegation that visited Kosovo in July spans all sectors of our state’s economy and I was proud to represent the UI in this important collaboration,” says Ganim. During the trip, Ganim solidified key partnerships with Prizren University, the University of Business and Technology, the University of Pristina, and the Kosovo Education Center through memoranduma of understanding (MOU) signings and renewals. 

In the meantime, Ganim met with university faculty and administrators, as well as experts from government, business, and education sectors to advocate for a grant application that fosters university and private sector partnership for workforce development in Kosovo. This USAID-sponsored project is led by Cassie Barnhardt, associate professor in the UI College of Education, in collaboration with the College of Agriculture at Iowa State University. 

“The welcome we were given was unlike any I had seen in my travels abroad. The level of warmth and hospitality was quite moving, and left us even more motivated to extend and deepen our partnerships in Kosovo,” reflects Ganim.